The best way to make it through a plumbing emergency with the least amount of water damage in your home is to plan ahead. No one ever anticipates a burst pipe or other plumbing emergency, but you can take a couple important steps ahead of time to save time and minimize damage if it ever happens to you.

First, locate the main water shut off valve in your home so you won’t have to go searching for it in the case of an emergency. Next, find a good plumber that you trust, and can call if there is an emergency. A lot of time is wasted scrambling around, looking for a plumber, but if you already have the number ready to go, you’ll be that much closer to a solution. The faster you can get everything coordinated and have a plumber there to take charge, the better chance you’ll have at getting out of it with minimal damage and cleanup.